Accessory to Murder

In Elaine Viets's Accessory to Murder, the third installment in the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper cozy mystery series, this cozy is so twisted, it would leave you speechless and tied up in knots. For single mother Josie Marcus, she had a terrible boss who assigned her awful places to mystery shop. And when she filed a report on his niece Saber, he would make sure he would put Josie through hell. While she content with her mother's smoking habits and her matchmaking, her best friend Alyce Bohannon needs her help. When they arrest her husband Jake for Halley Hardwicke's murder, she would do anything to help Alyce out to clear her name and whodonit. They talked to her friends and closest neighbors, while the Wood Winds community had shunned her. They look for clues in every nook and cranny to dissect Halley's private and personal life. And when Josie thought she had it made in the shade, they hit a snag and someone charged her card and sent packages to shut her up for snooping. But when that didn't deter her, when Josie dug deeper into the heart of Wood Winds community and to Halley's closest friends, when one of them had more than a bone to pick with her. It would leave Josie scrambling and fighting for her life in the end.

This was another great installment in the Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper Cozy Mystery series. I do like the St. Louis backdrop for the scenic settings and the location for this cozy series. I did care for Josie and Amelia as she tried to make money the earnest way to provide for her daughter. I did find Jane a bit overprotective, but proud of her for kicking the smoking habit. I find find Granby a lech and Mike a hottie for a plumber. This also portrayed the artistic and retail world in a new light, especially with real air-tight cul-de-sac communities. Sometimes it can be darn right creepy. This would make you shake your head, grimace and groan, whistle and sigh, maybe grit your teeth with non-stop action, drama, suspense and a hint of mystery.

Will you be an accessory to murder tonight?